Pivotal, Wellcome Leap pledge $100M for women’s health research

Melinda French Gates’ company, Pivotal, in partnership with global health company Wellcome Leap, is committing $100 million to women’s health research and development initiatives. The companies say they expect “life changing, lifesaving outcomes years, even decades, sooner than we would otherwise.” Despite living longer, women across the world spend 25% more of their lives in poor health, and that women account for 80% of patients with autoimmune diseases. “There are solutions at our fingertips — new tools, diagnostics and treatments that could benefit women everywhere in the world — if only we’re willing to reach for them,” Gates said. Wellcome Leap, founded five years ago, is run by CEO Regina Dugan, the first woman to head up the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.